| Keeping Your Mind Off of BC Fun things and posts that do not apply to BC |
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11-08-2008, 04:16 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Holidays and Celebrations
I have been thinking that it might be a good idea for us to share our favorite holiday and/or cultural celebrations now that we seem to be in the swing of winter observances. You don't have to limit your contributions to winter celebrations------just whatever comes to mind. Some suggestions are descriptions of celebrations, your memories and personal traditions associated with your favorite celebrations, poems, stories or recipes for your favorite holiday or cultural celebrations.
If we are lucky we wil end up with a wonderful multi cultural mix of things to read about and enjoy.
Now, I have to go look for a recipe for my favorite holiday, which is Christmas.
Have fun everyone !!
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11-09-2008, 04:22 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Holidays and Celebrations
I have been thinking about my favorite celebrations.
Of course Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. It is the last Thursday in November for those of you who do not live in the U. S. I am a vegetarian, so I don't eat Turkey, but I do eat all the other traditional Thanksgiving foods.
Thanksgiving reminds me of my own blessings. I like the period from Thanksgiving until New Year's because everyone is more jolly and friendly. One of my traditions is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from New York. We can usually get that on T. V. in Hawaii. My aunt told me it has been a family tradition since she was a little girl. My grandfather used to take his children to watch it in New York every Thanksgiving morning.
Okay. Anyone else for sharing?
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11-11-2008, 10:26 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
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Christmas Cookie Party
Every year I have my kids(2), kids in law(2), grandkids(4), my daughter-in-law's sister, her husband and 7 kids, the oldest of whom is married and has a baby, my daughter-in-law's parents, and my husband's "Hooter Girls" in to decorate cookies. It is soo much fun and I would recommend it for anyone wishing to really enjoy the meaning of Christmas.
Love & hugs,
Marlys
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11-11-2008, 11:46 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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My favorite has always been decorating the tree. My hubby hated it...until I made the tree-trimming tradition include a big pot of hot mulled wine! Of course, now I have to make sure he puts the lights on the tree before he himself gets too lit!
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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11-23-2008, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Holidays and Celebrations
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL !!
I am thankful to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving !!
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11-24-2008, 06:14 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Elaine
I too am thankful for family, friends, warmth, and each and every day!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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11-24-2008, 07:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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When I was little we lived in Wisconsin (first Milwaukee then we moved to Menomonee Falls). We did 3 things that I didn't do with my kids and people just don't do today.
First, my mom used to buy us Christmas dresses and new "shiny" shoes. We would go see Santa and get our picture taken all dolled up.
Another thing we would do is my dad would drive us downtown at night and we would walk around and look at all the windows. The big department stores all tried to outdo each other with the decorations. It was a big deal then to have a mechanical reindeer. The window dressings were just spectacular. Department stores don't do this anymore and its quite a shame.
Lastly, on a weekend night just before Christmas, my dad would take us all in the car to ride around and look at people's houses' decorations. We would always debate whose was best. Year after year we would know where to go as most people who did a great job one year did a great job the next year. This is one thing I still do - check out the surrounding area for nicely decorated houses.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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11-27-2008, 12:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 856
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This year I decided to shoot my own turkey for Thanksgiving. You should have seen everybody duck for cover in the meat department!
Having a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone, even the people in Canada who celebrated it early.
__________________
This happened to Colleen:
Diagnosed in September 2007
ER-/PR-/HER2 Neu+++ 2.1 cm x .9 cm spicluted tumor with three fingers, Stage 2B
Sentinal node biopsy and lymph node removal with 3/18 positive in October 2007
4 TAC infusions
lumpectomy March 2008, bad margins
Re-excision on June 3rd, 2008 with clean margins
Fitted for compression sleeve July 16, 2008
Started the first of two TCH infusions August 14, 2008
Done with chemo and now a member of the blue dot club 9/17/08
Starting radiation October 1, 2008
life is still on hold
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12-04-2008, 03:18 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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I'm sipping and smelling in my mind already! Everything sounds devine!!! ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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12-04-2008, 05:40 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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I love my Haggis, Jeannie! I like it with a little "sauce" on it once in awhile, though. I've never made my own, but I think I need to learn. I have an aunt who makes the best, but she does it in secret and won't give out the recipe!
__________________
For Nicola
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12-04-2008, 05:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 118
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Glad you like Haggis Bill. First you need a sheeps bag and pluck, LOL I think I will leave it at that. Jeanette
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12-05-2008, 10:48 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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Every Christmas morning I get up and put coffee on and after I have had my coffee, I pop open a bottle of champagne and celebrate with a little bubbly. Then, we all open our gifts while I sip away on my special gift to myself. P.S. It also tastes better with chocolate covered strawberries!
__________________
dx aug 03 invasive dcis 1 cm
er/pr/her2+
bcs 8/4/03
bcs 8/21/03 0/16 nodes
tx 4x ca 36 rad tam
postmenopausal 06 aromasin
sept 07 biopsy node in neck
muga/pet/cat/bone mets to lungs nodes and liver stage iv
tx hki-272
tx not working switched to taxol herceptin
Taxol not working switched to navelbine
navelbine is causing bad neuropathy
starting gemzar
gemzar quit on me now on Ixempra due to increasing number and size of liver mets
another progression starting tykerb/xeloda
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12-09-2008, 09:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Holidays and Celebrations
In my mind it is not Christmas without a tree. I dragged my tree and decorations out of storage yesterday even though I had to move alot of things to do it, so I am in the middle of decorating my home these days. It is a lot of work, but worth every bit of it. I never take my tree down or put away my decorations until after the 12th night (around January 6th or 7th). One year I had it up until the end of January when I had bronchitis !! I had a real tree that year. My neighbors must have wondered about me when they saw me dragging it out to the trash on January 31st. Oh well.
I also love Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services.
Church on Christmas felt like something miraculous when I was a child. It still does.
Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)
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12-10-2008, 08:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 856
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For our family, the start of the holiday season is a huge shopping trip to the grocery store. Our grocery store has a 20% off coupon it mails out the first of December. We get all the kids packed up and we go to the store. Each child gets their own cart and they get to put anything they want in the cart. We usually buy a years worth of canned goods and all sorts of meat for the freezer. We usually end up with four or five carts filled to the brim. It is a great time for everyone and it also marks the start of the Christmas season. This year we spent about $1,200 and with coupons and 20% off, the bill came down to $750. By the way, our family motto is, "Never pay full price for anything".
__________________
This happened to Colleen:
Diagnosed in September 2007
ER-/PR-/HER2 Neu+++ 2.1 cm x .9 cm spicluted tumor with three fingers, Stage 2B
Sentinal node biopsy and lymph node removal with 3/18 positive in October 2007
4 TAC infusions
lumpectomy March 2008, bad margins
Re-excision on June 3rd, 2008 with clean margins
Fitted for compression sleeve July 16, 2008
Started the first of two TCH infusions August 14, 2008
Done with chemo and now a member of the blue dot club 9/17/08
Starting radiation October 1, 2008
life is still on hold
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12-16-2008, 06:38 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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The Christmas Pickle...years ago I found this ornament in a specialty Christmas shop...my boys were about 3 and 5 (now 30 and 33). The legend said on Christmas Eve, Santa hid the ornament...a lovely glass pickle...on the tree. The first child to discover the ornament on Christmas got a special little gift! When my boys got married, they each got their own pickle ornament...and the tradition continues!
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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